Michael V. McKenry
 Nematologist and Extension Nematologist
Ph.D., University of California, Riverside, 1972

Phone (559) 646-6554      FAX (559) 646-6593
E-mail: mckenry@uckac.edu

Department of Nematology
University of California, Riverside

Area of Specialty:
Soil pests of nematodes of tree and vine crops

Research Statement
My area of study is the nematodes of tree and vine crops.  One major goal of my research is development of nematode pathogenicity data.  That work has focused on an understanding of the damage caused by Meloidogyne spp., Pratylenchus vulnus,  Xiphinema spp., Mesocriconema xenoplax and Tylenchulus semipenetrans.  Ancillary to understanding nematode damage is development of nematode management tools.   Our search for “Broad Nematode Resistance” among grape cultivars began in 1987.  A search for resistance to P. vulnus and Meloidogyne spp among existing walnut cultivars has been underway since 1998.  Beginning in 1982 I have worked intermittently with aqueous extracts of various plant materials to be used as nematicides.  Extracts of primary interest have come from marigold, poppy, vetch and walnut.  In 1990 my efforts shifted to development of commercial methods for drenching non-fuming nematicidal agents in large volumes of water.  By 1997 we had proven this approach to be successful with conventional nematicides such as metam sodium and 1,3-dichloropropene and our effort has now shifted to drenching of nematicidal extracts. 

Our search for methyl bromide alternatives began in 1991.  Successful alternatives are essential for the California nursery industry, which must be relied upon for nematode-free nursery stock.  We must also have a methyl bromide alternative for sites where trees or vines will be replanted.  In field situations where no methyl bromide alternatives exist there will be an increased demand for post-plant nematicides, an area of renewed interest.

Nematode web site

Recent Publications

2007   Anwar, S. A., M. V. McKenry, and N. Javed. Development, reproduction and root galling of Meloidogyne incognita populations on several cotton cultivars. Journal of Nematology 39 (1): 68-69.

2007   McKenry, M. V. and S. A. Anwar. Virulence of Meloidogyne spp. and induced resistance in grape rootstocks. Journal of Nematology 39 (1): 50-54.

2006   Buzo, T., M. McKenry, and J. Hasey. Interaction of Juglans species with Pratylenchus vulnus and Meloidogyne incognita. Proceedings of the Fifth International Walnut Symposium. Acta Horticulturae 705: 417-423.

2006   Cao, T., M. V. McKenry, R. A. Duncan, T. M. DeJong, B. C. Kirkpatrick, and K. Schackel. Influence of ring nematode infestations and calcium, nitrogen and indoleacetic acid applications on peach susceptibility to Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae. Phytopathology 96: 608-615.

2006   McKenry, M. V. and S. A. Anwar. Nematode and grape rootstock interactions including an improved understanding of tolerance. Journal of Nematology 38 (3): 312-318.

2006   McKenry, M. V., T. Buzo, and S. Kaku. Replanting stone fruit orchards without soil fumigation. International Conference on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emission Reductions. Nov. 6, 2006. Orlando, FL.  www.MBAO.org

2005   Cao, T., R. A. Duncan, M. V. McKenry, K. A. Schackel, T. M. DeJong, and B. C. Kirkpatrick. Interaction between nitrogen-fertilized peach trees and expression of syrB, a gene involved in syringomycin production in Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae. Phytopathology 95: 581-586.

2005   Holtz, B. A., T. Caesar-TonThat, and M. V. McKenry. Wood chipping almond brush and its effect on soil and petiole nutrients, soil aggregation, water infiltration, and nematode and basidiomycete populations. Options Mediterraneennes, Series A. Numero 63: 247-254.

2005   McKenry, M. V. Strategies and tactics for fumigating clay loam soils. International Conference on Methyl Bromide alternatives and Emission Reductions. Section 37-1-3. San Diego, CA.  www.MBAO.org

2004   Holtz, B. A., M. V. McKenry, and T. C. Caesar-TonThat. Wood chipping almond brush and its effect on the almond rhizosphere, soil aggregation and soil nutrients. (Eds. L. Bertschinger and J. D. Anderson) Acta Horticulturae 638: 127-134.

2004   Ferris, H., M. V. McKenry, B. A. Jaffee, C. E. Anderson, and A. Jurma. Population characteristics and dosage trajectory analysis for Mesocriconema xenoplax in California Prunus orchards. Journal of Nematology 36(4): 505-516.

2004   McKenry, M. V. Nematodes of olive. In Revised, Olive Production Manual. Chapter 16. UCDANR Publication #3353. Pp. 115-117.

2004   McKenry, M. V., D. Luvisi, S. A. Anwar, P. Schrader, and S. Kaku. Eight-year nematode study from uniformly designed rootstock trials in 15 table grape vineyards. American Journal of Enology and Viticulture 55: 218-227.

2004   Molinari, S., F. Lamberti, L. Duncan, J. Halbrendt, M. McKenry, G. S. Abawi, J. C. Magunacelaya, R. Crozzoli, R. M. Lemos, A. Nyczepir, P. Nagy, R. T. Robbins, J. Kotcon, M. Moens, and D.J.F. Brown. SOD polymorphism in Xiphinema americanum-group (Nematoda: Longidoridae). Nematology 6(6): 867-876.

2004   Verdejo-Lucas, S. and M. V. McKenry. Management of the citrus nematode, Tylenchulus semipenetrans. Journal of Nematology 36(4): 424-432.

2003   Anwar, S. A., M. V. McKenry, K. Y. Yang, and A. J. Anderson. Induction of tolerance to root-knot nematode by Oxycom. Journal of Nematology 35(3): 306-313

2003   Duncan, R. A., M. V. McKenry, and K. Scow. Evaluation of pre- and post-plant treatments for replanted peach orchards. International Conference on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions Reductions, San Diego. Pp. 6.  www.MBAO.org

2003   McKenry, M. V., D. Buessing, and K. Williams. New chisel shanks enable improved fumigation of finer-textured soils. International Conference on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emission Reductions, San Diego. Pp. 3.  www.MBAO.org

2002   Anwar, S. A. and M. V. McKenry. Developmental response of a resistance-breaking population of Meloidogyne arenaria on Vitis spp. Journal of Nematology 34: 28-33.

2002   Anwar, S. A. and M. V. McKenry. Penetration and development of Meloidogyne arenaria on two new grape rootstocks. Journal of Nematology 34: 143-145.

2002   Anwar, S. A., M. V. McKenry, and D. Ramming. A search for more durable grape rootstock resistance to root knot nematode. American Journal of Enology and Viticulture 53(1): 9-23.

2002   McKenry, M. V. Nematodes. In: Second Edition of Integrated Pest Management for Almonds. UC Publication 3308. Pp. 151-157.

2002   Westerdahl, B. B. and M. V. McKenry. Diseases caused by nematodes. In: Compendium of Nut Crop Diseases in Temperate Zones. American Phytopathological Society Compendium Series. Pp. 11-14.